The opinion
FILED
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
Clerk, U.S. District and
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Bankruptcy Courts
STANLEY PAUL SMITH, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. )
)
Civil Action No. 10 0290
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the court on review of plaintiff s application to proceed in
forma pauperis and pro se civil complaint. The court will grant the application, and dismiss the
complaint.
The Court has reviewed plaintiffs complaint, keeping in mind that complaints filed by
pro se litigants are held to less stringent standards than those applied to formal pleadings drafted
by lawyers. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Even pro se litigants, however,
must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Jarrell v. Tisch, 656 F. Supp. 237, 239
(D.D.C. 1987). Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that a complaint
contain a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court's jurisdiction depends, a
short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand
for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The purpose of the minimum
standard of Rule 8 is to give fair notice to the defendants of the claim being asserted, sufficient to
prepare a responsive answer, to prepare an adequate defense and to determine whether the
doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497,498 (D.D.C. 1977).
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The list of defendants exceeds 10 pages, and there appear to be so many factual
allegations against so many defendants that the Court cannot discern what claim or claims he
brings against which defendant. The complaint is so vague, disorganized and confusing that it
utterly fails to "give the defendant[s] fair notice of what the plaintiffs claim is and the grounds
upon which it rests." Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47-48 (1957). Neither the court nor the
defendants can discern the nature or basis of plaintiff s claim, the relief plaintiff demands, and
the basis of the court's jurisdiction. For these reasons, the complaint will be dismissed without
prejudice for its failure to comply with Rule 8(a). An Order consistent with this Memorandum
Opinion is issued separately.
United States District
Date: f.J. ~ J. OlD
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